Creating Meaningful Mental Health, Wellbeing, & Inclusion Programs  

Young people are surrounded by messages about what not to do—don’t bully, don’t discriminate, don’t make bad choices. While these messages are well-intentioned, they often fail to show students what positive action actually looks like.

At Common Compass, we focus on empowering & young people and the adults that support them, how to make good, values-driven choices—in moments that matter. From supporting a peer or speaking up against discrimination, to managing conflict, stress, and emotional wellbeing, these choices don’t just “happen.” They are shaped by mental health skills, lived experiences, and environments that nurture resilience, empathy, and connection

Through our evidence-informed, interactive workshops, we help students build the insight, empathy, and practical skills needed to navigate real-life challenges—strengthening not only individual wellbeing, but entire school communities.

What We Do

Common Compass partners with schools to deliver proactive, in-school social-emotional and mental health programming for students, educators, and parents. Our workshops are:

• Highly interactive and engaging
  
• Designed to support multiple learning styles
  
• Grounded in real-life scenarios students face
  
• Delivered in small groups to foster trust, connection, and meaningful impact
  

We use a wide range of approaches, including role play, discussion, art-based activities, journaling, videos, games, and inquiry-based learning. Every program is tailored to the unique strengths and challenges of each school community.

Our Approach: Evidence-Informed and Human-Centered

Common Compass programs are grounded in research from psychology, social work, and education that identifies the key contributors to pro-social behaviour, mental health, and belonging.

Our work is guided by a Self–Others–Skills model, helping students:

• Develop self-awareness and emotional regulation
  
• Build empathy and perspective-taking
  
• Strengthen practical social and coping skills
  

We combine academic research with lived experience, ongoing consultation, and continuous feedback from students, educators, and mental health professionals.

Our Programming Process

Every partnership follows a clear, collaborative three-step process:

1. Inventory

We begin by gaining a broad understanding of school-wide social-emotional wellbeing by:

• Working with school stakeholders to identify strengths, challenges, and priorities
  
• Using our social-emotional wellbeing inventory to inform next steps
  

2. Assessment

We then explore the root causes of identified challenges by:

• Conducting surveys and/or focus groups with students, staff, and/or parents
  
• Identifying underlying contributors, barriers, and roadblocks
  
• Listening to stakeholder-identified solutions
  

Findings and recommendations are shared with school leadership and relevant committees, along with referrals to community supports when appropriate.

3. Intervention

Based on assessment findings, we:

• Design and deliver customized workshops or training
  
• Collaborate closely with students, staff, and administrators
  
• Utilize professionally trained facilitators who reflect the diversity of the school community
  

Our interventions commonly focus on:

• Mental health, coping skills, and self-esteem
  
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion
  
• Belonging, school climate, and community
  
• Student leadership and student voice
  
• Academic resilience (e.g., time management, stress, procrastination)
  

Our Equity Lens

Equity is embedded in every stage of our work. We recognize that students experiencing mental health challenges are an underserved, equity-seeking population, and that these challenges are often compounded by systemic barriers related to race, gender identity, disability, or financial access.

By listening directly to students, families, and educators, we co-create solutions that are culturally responsive, relevant, and accessible. Our in-school delivery model reduces financial and social barriers, ensuring students can access support where they already are.

We are deeply committed to collaboration—not “off-the-shelf” programming—and work alongside school communities from start to finish.

What Makes Common Compass Unique

• Evidence-informed programs delivered by mental health and school wellbeing professionals
  
• Ability to work holistically with students, educators, and parents
  
• Small-group delivery that supports vulnerability, relationship-building, and deep learning
  
• Customized, collaborative approach that elevates student and staff voice
  
• Statistically significant outcomes
  
• Programs that build on the existing strengths of each school community

Our Track Record

• Programs delivered across 8 school boards
  
• Over 13,000 students and educators reached
  
• 12+ years of continuous consultation and refinement
  
• Formally partnered with multiple school boards
  
• Programs aligned with SMHO’s Partnership Decision Making Tool

Our History

Common Compass is an Ontario-based charity founded in 2013 by Leisha Zamecnik, a Toronto-based social worker and mental health professional. The organization was created to deliver proactive, preventative social-emotional wellbeing programming—meeting young people where they already spend their time: school.

Following extensive consultation with educators, students, and parents, Common Compass launched its first pilot program in a Toronto elementary school. Since then, the organization has steadily expanded, adapting its offerings to meet evolving school needs and funding landscapes.

In 2023, Common Compass received federal charitable status, enabling increased fundraising capacity and long-term sustainability in support of school mental health.